STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s Heather Hayton stormed to victory to win the WMD1x trophy in style at the Worcester Spring Regatta.
Hayton used her experience in the event to win the race with an excellent row and come home with the trophy.
Hayton said: “The River Severn is always challenging and this race was no different, fast stream and a cross wind.
“Worcester Spring Regatta was my first race in the 1x this year, it was a positive experience and a good benchmark to work from. Lovely to hear our women’s eight cheer for me on my way down the course.”
The women’s masters VIII, coxed by Jen Carey, stroked by new club member, Californian Adrienne Abreu with Rebecca England making stern pair had Helen Helliwell, Lin Hansen, Charlotte Jones, Fiona Schulz, Gina Fusco, Claudine Pearson, taking bow seat, following behind them.
And the crew’s experienced cox expertly navigated the long queue for boating and the race with a fast stream.
The eight made a powerful and efficient start which settled into a confident rhythm to take the first race against a Worcester crew.
However, Stratford’s opponents in the final were a Bewdley crew whose age difference gave them a six second advantage.
The eight were hindered under the umpire’s command at the start costing them dearly but gained on their opposition although the advantage was too large to make up.
Masters vice captain, Amanda Bowden, said: “I am delighted to see Stratford Masters women beating the opposition so convincingly in the first round.
“Winning the event would have been the ideal, however I felt they beat the better crew in the first race. This was another valuable learning experience for all the crews.”
The earlier division saw David Timmins and Lucy Scarlett race against Birmingham in the first round of the senior mixed doubles.
It is early days for this newly formed crew, they went out in the round but had a very good row and enjoyed the race nonetheless.
Elsewhere, Stratford’s sister club, King Edward VI School Boat Club, headed down to Dorney Lake for the Ball Cup Regatta.
First down the course was A. Appleton in the WJ17 1x who produced a storming scull to finish second in her heat and comfortably progress to the final.
And she made an even better start in her final to finish with a very credible silver medal.
Later in the morning, the J18 4x of W. Dalrymple-Baker, H.Hoare, A. Mathers and M.Cullimore raced down the course progressing comfortably to the final where they finished fourth against strong opposition.
Next up, T. Shields and H. Perry went in the WJ18 2x in the former’s first-ever race and finished 10th overall out of 15 crews.
In the Girls Ball Cup fours, the KES crew of M.Rowan, E. Cooper, J. Long, A. Appleton and cox E. Mitchell put in a very impressive performance to pull away and take the win.
And KES entered two crews in the Boys Ball Cup fours as both crews made good starts, settling in well and putting in great performances.
The A crew of W. Dalrymple-Baker, H. Hoare, A Mathers, D. Shilvock and cox, E. Mitchell, won to take the Ball Cup trophy while the B crew of M. Cullimore, H. Frost, F. Groves, T. Woodcock and cox A. Appleton took the silver.
Lastly, the WJ18 4x crew of M. Rowan, T. Shields, E. Cooper and J. Long narrowly missed out on the race win by less than half a length to take the silver medal.
Head of KES rowing, Hannah Crone, said: “It was a great day for the squad coming home with five medals and winning both the girls and boys Ball Cup Fours for the second year running.”
